Backlash over Gloucester Council's posters urging the public not to give cash to homeless

A council has faced a backlash and been accused of "demonising" the homeless after adverts appeared to warn people against giving money to rough sleepers.

The Gloucester City Council poster suggested that not all rough sleepers are homeless and urged people to "think" before handing over change.

It reads: "Are you really helping homeless people? In some cases, the people you see sleeping rough are not homeless.

"They are in accommodation, receiving support and benefits."

Beneath that is a picture of a rough sleeper propping up at cardboard sign with the slogan: "Change is more than coins. Think before you give."

Critics claimed the posters were designed to make the public "suspicious" of homeless people and to that many rough sleepers were not genuine.

But a city councillor told Standard that the "Street Aware" campaign was aimed at boosting public knowledge about "alternative giving".

The campaign sparked a backlash among some constituents and the Gloucester branch of the Labour party.

The advert also urges people who are worried about someone sleeping rough to contact local authorities through StreetLink - a website and phone app that aims to make it easier to find support for people living on the streets.

People are also encouraged to "make [their] change count" by donating to an established homeless charity.

But Labour has slammed the campaign and called for immediate removal of the posters from billboards across the city.

Fran Boait, Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Gloucester, wrote on Twitter on Friday: "This is an awful advert.

"Streetlink is really important, but making people suspicious of homeless people is horrible. This framing is all wrong and undermines the care we need for people sleeping rough."

In a joint statement released on Monday, Ms Boait and city councillor Terry Pullen said they were "absolutely disgusted" by the posters.

They wrote: "The posters imply that most homeless people are not genuine but trying to con people out of money.

"This is shameful and effectively demonises one of the most vulnerable groups of people in our society who need our kindness and care.

"We call upon Gloucester City Council to immediately withdraw these posters."

Many people online also expressed their concern over the posters.

Homeless Britain, which raises awareness for homelessness, said: "Gloucester city should be ashamed, this demonising homelessness is beyond disgusting, it is inhumane and a disgrace as is the poster!"

While Jim Currie asked: "Why can't we give them money and contact StreetLink."

Councillor Jennie Watkins, cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods at Gloucester City Council, said: "The launch of our “Street Aware” campaign is to raise public awareness about alternative giving. It’s a tough message to deliver, but we must consider whether giving money directly to individuals is the best way to support them to make positive and sustainable change.

"Giving money to people who beg may make life on the street easier for them in the short term, but, in the worst case, could feed dependency. It takes more than money to turn a life around.

"The intention behind the poster campaign is to catch the public’s attention, to ask them to think about whether their money is helping in the best way and to provide important information about how to refer someone who they may be concerned about for support."